Compound Words

Background Information for Learners

This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is about inferring the meaning of unfamiliar
compound words. We may use context clues, synonyms, antonyms, word parts and other
strategies to know the meaning of these unfamiliar compound words. But, first we need to
understand the meaning of compound word.

Compound words are words formed by putting two or more words together to form a new word
with a new meaning.

RAIN COAT RAINCOAT

Meaning: Meaning: Meaning:

+ liquid water in the form = An outer garment worn A long coat made of
droplets that have outdoors, having sleeves from waterproof or condensed from
and typically extending water-resistant
atmospheric water vapor below the hips fabric

There are three (3) types of compound words – closed, open and hyphenated.
1. Closed compound words - words written as one
Examples: raincoat, milkshakes, earthquake
Sentence: Pablo had no raincoat or waterproof long coat on when the rain
started.
2. Open compound words- written with space between words
Examples: living room, pencil case, ice cream
Sentence: We had ice cream as cold desserts after dinner.
3. Hyphenated compound words- words connected by a hyphen (-)
Examples: merry-go-round, left-handed, full-time
Sentence: Mr. Juan Dela Cruz is our full-time worker, and he works 40 hours a
week.
Context clues are giving the meaning from the sentence itself Synonyms
are words with the same meaning
Antonyms are words with opposite meaning.
Word parts by analyzing the meaning of each word being combined.

Learning Competency with Code

Infer the meaning of unfamiliar compound words based on given context clues
(antonyms, synonyms, word parts) and other strategies (EN5V-Ia-12 and 13)
Activity 1

Directions: Read the story then answer the guide questions below.

A Trip to Town
by: Jean Paul V. Banay

One Saturday morning, Marissa and her mother went to town to buy supplies for the
household.

They first stopped at the repairman’s shop to follow up the repair of their electric fan. The
repairman said they could pick it up on Monday.

Afterwards, they went to the supermarket to buy groceries. They bought meatballs, tomato
sauce, and pasta. Mother will be cooking spaghetti that night. They also bought cooking oil, soy
sauce, banana catsup, vinegar, salt and pepper. They also purchased some bathing supplies, like
bath soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. At the cleaning supplies station, they bought
detergent soap, fabric conditioner, and dishwashing paste.

After paying the groceries, they went to a pizza house. Marissa ate one-fourth of the pizza.

On their way home, they stopped over the local bakery to buy doughnuts and cupcakes as take
home for Marissa’s father and siblings.
It was a nice trip to town.

Answer the following questions?

1. Who are the characters in the story?

___________________________________________________________________________

2. What did they do?

___________________________________________________________________________

3. Where did they go?

___________________________________________________________________________

4. If you were Marissa, how do you feel going around the town with your mother? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________

5. Can you also name places you see in your town?

___________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2

Directions: Identify the compound words in the story “A Trip to Town". Write your answers
in the given column under its type.

Example
Open Closed Hyphenated
basketball

1 ______________ ________________ _______________

2 ______________ ________________ _______________
3 ______________ ________________ _______________
4 ______________ ________________ _______________
5 ______________ ________________ _______________
6 ______________ ________________ _______________
7 ______________ ________________ _______________
8 ______________ ________________ _______________
9 ______________ ________________ _______________
10 ______________ ________________ _______________
11 ______________ ________________ _______________
12 ______________ ________________ _______________
13 ______________ ________________ _______________
14 ______________ ________________ _______________
15 ______________ ________________ _______________

Activity 3

Directions: Underline the compound words in the following sentences then give its meaning
through context clues by encircling it.

Example:
I have read the headline of the newspaper today, It is front story written in bold letters.

1. Mr. Mercado gives a piece of advice to his son-in-law. The husband of his daughter
Wants to go abroad.

2. The shoemaker makes a lot of shoes.

3. Classroom is a place where children learn things.

4. Mother put her things in a paper bag, a bag made of paper.

5. The pack bag is always worn at the back.

6. Baseball is a game using a bat and a ball.

7. The children went to the playground to start playing.

8. Best friends are those who get along with each other.
9. The boy wears his face mask to cover and protect his face.

10. The sky was overcast, rain was expected because it was a cloudy afternoon.

Activity 4

Directions: Write the compound word that refers to the following.

1. bell by the door

2. ache or pain at the back of the body

3. cake cooked on a pan

4. room where classes are held

5. shelf where books are placed

6. corn that swells up or burst open with a pop

7. cloth that covers a table

8. having a long hair

9. a chief editor

10. a case for pencil

Reflection:
I have learned in this activity _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________.